I live and work in Brooklyn, NY. I earned a B.A. from NYU and an M.F.A. from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. My solo exhibitions include the Sara Meltzer Gallery, NYC-2004, The Contemporary Gallery, Memphis TN, 2003, The Silverstein Gallery, NYC-1997-2001, and The Franklin Furnace, NYC-1995. I have shown my work in group exhibitions at MoMA, The Guggenheim, The Jewish Museum, The New Museum, The Bronx Museum, The Rice Gallery, The Hammer Museum, the Noyes Museum, The Snug Harbor Cultural Center, The RISD Museum, White Columns and Exit Art. I have received grants from The Pollock Krasner Foundation, Art in General Individual Artist Grant, The Franklin Furnace and the New Jersey Council on the Arts. My work has been discussed in The New York Times, Time Out, The Chicago Tribune, Art Forum, The Los Angeles Times, LA Life and Art Issues publication. I work in a variety of media but am presently anchored in making sculptures based on drawings and watercolors I create. Although much of my work is intuitive, the focus is inspired by the human form, my identity, the physicality of clay and the transformation that occurs internally and externally to preserve the self. Twisting and turning the clay to construct folds and voids that connect to my history, I hand build ceramic sculptures part by part, employing pinching, slab building and coil techniques. I use the strength of my whole body in the process of making each work, folding, bending, modeling and balancing the clay. Working with cone 6-10 stoneware, porcelain and terra cotta clay, I underglaze, overglaze or just leave the work without color once kiln fired. Color, when used, is as important as constructing each piece. I sketch out options and fire color tests in the kiln before adding glazes to get a better idea of the finished work. That said, one can never completely forecast what will happen in the kiln and the surprise is part of what I love about clay; not everything turns out as planned or expected. When I do apply glazes to my sculptures I add them as though I’m a painter, by actually brushing on the layers instead of dipping them–to create a layering of mark making and pigment.
Instagram: @nuritnewman
